Submarine vessel.



A. FERNANDEZ.

SUBMARINE VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-20.19%.

5667., Patented July 10, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I $555555 U2 m i I j w fi Q vwamtoz J J [7 a QJ=5 7 P [I Patented July 10, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- A. FERNANDEZ.

SUBMARINE VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-20,1916.

A. FERNANDEZ.

SUBMARINE VESSEL.

- APPLICATION FILED SEPT-20, 1916- 11 8 6? Patented. July 10, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- ALPHONSE FERNANDEZ, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SUBMARINE VESSEL.

Application filed September 20, 1916.

To all whom it 'may concern Be it known that I, .ALPHoNsn FERNAN- DEZ, a subject of the King of Spain, residing at the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submarine Vessels; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide means for stabilizing and controlling the submerging of submarine vessels without the use of air pumps. To this end, I employ a plurality of oompartments having vertically sliding power driven partitions for forcing water therefrom or drawing it into the same.

A further object of the invention is to construct the compartments and partitions in such a manner as to permit the upper portions of the former to serve as cargo or supply carrying chambers having said partitions as their bottoms.

Yet another object is to provide simple means for clamping the cargo against shift- 1ng.

Still further objects are to equip the water supply passage of the compartments with valves arranged on opposite sides of a central water inlet whereby water may be excluded from either end of the vessel and to devise means for preventing any objects or matter from entering the water inlet which might prevent closing of the cut off valve or valves with which the latter is equipped.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and in unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which constitute a part of this application and in which:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section showing the general arrangement of parts, certain parts being omitted while others are shown out of their proper locations for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of one of the compartments and a part of another, the use of one of the upper chambers for carrying liquid such as fuel being illustrated Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1 0, 1917.

Serial No. 121,247.

the manner in which cargo may be clamped in place in the vertically moving partitions;

Fig. 4- is a horizontal section on the plane indicated by the line 4.-t of Fig. 8;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal section on the plane of the line 66 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 1 has reference to the hull or shell of the improved submersible vessel, 2 designates the engine, 3 the propeller, and 4- the vertical rudder. All of these parts are shown conventionally and may be of the usual or any preferred construction.

A plurality of compartments C are spaced longitudinally of the vessel and are separated from each other by vertical partitions 5, each compartment C being divided into a lower water chamber C and an upper cargo or supply carrying chamber CC by means of a horizontal vertically movable partition 6. A pair of vertical screws 7 are disposed in each compartment 0 and are threaded through the partitions 6 so that turning of said screws will raise or lower the partitions 6 as occasion may demand, for the purpose of taking water into or expelling it from the water chambers lVC without the use of pumps.

Any preferred means may be employed for driving the screws 7 but the upper ends thereof are preferably equipped with vertical shafts 8 whose upper ends are rotatably mounted in a frame 9, each shaft 8 having a small gear 10 and a large gear 11 which mesh respectively with a large gear 12 and a small gear 13 loose on a vertical drive shaft 14: and capable of being locked thereto by means of a clutch member 15 which may be shifted at will by the lever 16 and locked by the device 17. By this arrangement, when the gear 13 is locked to shaft 14:, the two screws 7 will be rotated to move the partition 6 downwardly at a rather slow rate of speed to expel the water from the water chamber WC, thus permitting the vessel to rise toward the surface of the water when a sufficient number of the chambers WC have been totally or partially emptied. When the gear 12 is locked to shaft 14:, however, and the direction of rotation of shaft 14: is reversed, the screws 7 will be swiftly turned in the direction for moving the partition 6 rapidly upward, thus permitting the chambers 'WQ to be quickly filled with 0 Figs. 2 and 5 and as shown most clearly in the last named view, said passage P is provided with a pair of opposed water inlets I which will be located at or near the center of the vessel. A valve 18 is provided in each inlet I for controlling the passage of water therethrough, these valves being shown as having vertical operating shafts 19 provided on their upper ends-with operating levers 20 equipped with looking devices 21. For the purpose of preventing the entrance of any objects or matter such as mud, gravel or stones from the bed of a harbor or the like, into the inlets I and possibly preventing closing of the valves 18 at the proper time screens or gratings 22 are located over or across the inlets I as depicted clearly in Fig. 5.

At times it becomes advantageous to exclude water from eitherend of the vessel and for this purpose valves 23 are disposed in the passage P on opposite sides of the inlets I, said valves having vertical operating shafts 21 equipped at their upper ends with operating levers 25 having locking devices 26.

Three-way valves 27 are provided at the lower ends of the partitions 5 for establishing' communication between the passage P and the several water chambers WC. The valves 27 may be turned to the position shown at the right of Fig. 2 to establish communication with one chamber IVC, may be reversed to place the adjacent water chamber in communication with the passage P. or as shown at the left of Fig. 2 said valves may be so turned as to establish communication between any two adjacent water compartments and at the same time place these compartments in communication with passage P. The valves 27 are provided with upright shafts-28 having hand wheels 29 on their upper ends, which wheels will be provided with suitable indicating means for disclosing the manner in which; the valves 27 are set. Itmay' here be explained that in addition to the positions above set forth, the valves 27 may be turned to a neutral positionin which they obstruct communication between the passage P and water chambers IVC between which they are located.

Gages 30 are employed for showing the height of thexwater levelsin the numerous chambers C. one gage being employed for each chamben Any suitable means may be employed for operating the gages 30 but this is preferablydone by connecting the interior mechanisms thereof to vertical rods 31 on the exterior of the compartments C, the lower ends of said rods beingpivoted to crank arms 32 on rock shafts 33'extending throughthe-sides of said compartments (see Figs. 2 and 5). Arms 3f are rigidly secured to the inner ends of the shafts 33 and are located'in the chambers \VC, each arm 3% having a float 35 to travel on the surface of the water as shown in Fig. 2.

Other gages 36 are employed for the purpose of ascertaining the distances which the partitions 6 stand above their lowermost positions, one gage 36 being provided for each chamber 0'. The gages 36 are connected to vertical operating rods 37 whose lowerends are pivoted to crank arms 38 on rock shafts 39 similar to Crank arms- 4:0 within the chambers WC are rigidly secured to the innerends of the shafts 39 and by meansof links 41 are connected'to the partitions 6. This operating means is preferable butothers may well be employed.

To permit the expulsion of air from thespaces between the water levels in chambers IVC and the partitions 6, and for relieving suctionwhich would be caused in the chambers IVCby elevating of the partitions 6 above said water levels, air pipes 42 are employed, each of-these pipes having a valve 43 by means of which the chambers WC may be placed in communication with a pipe line 4st which leads to an appropriate air tank not shown. The valves 13 are located at-the lower ends of the chambers WVC andin order that they may be operated from the-tops of the compartments G, they are preferably equipped with chains 45 indicated in Fig. 5.

As above suggested, the chambers CC may carry fuel or other liquids, whether they be cargo to be carried from one port'to another or merely the supplies used onjthe trip. The liquid will be fed to the chambers r in question and removed therefrom through pipes I6 which branch from a main pipe 4:7, each of said pipes l6 having a cut off valve el-S. The pipe line 4.7 will supply fuel to the storage tank 1-9 for the engine 2 and a cut olf valve 50 is interposed between said tank and the inlet or outlet 51 of said pipe line. Through pipe 51the numerous chambers CC may be tilled or emptied as willbe readily understood and this pipe may lead to suitable coupling means for connecting the submarine with a pipe lowered from a supply ship or permanently submerged at a wharf or the like. 51 may also be employed for filling the chambers CG when the vessel is in the chambers CC, gages 52 are provided, said gages preferably having vertical operating rods 53 connected to crank arms 5% extending from rock shafts 55, the inner ends of said rock shafts having rather long crank arms 56 carrying floats 57 on their free ends to ride on the surface of the liquid. Pipes 58 are clamped to the outer ends of the arms 56 and are connected by hoses or the like 59 with the branch pipes t6 so that no matter whether the level of liquid lowers or rises, the same may be at all times removed from the chambers.

\Vhen solid cargo such as that shown in Figs. 1 and 3 is to be carried in certain of the chambers CC, clamping frames 60 are employed for holding such cargo against shifting, said frames being of suitable construction and having split nuts 61 clamped removably around the screws 7 by means of hand screws or the like 62 as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and. 6. By this arrangement the frames 60 may rest upon the cargo and by means of the nuts 61 may be secured in this position. As the partitions 6 are now raised. and lowered the cargo and frames 60 will move therewith so that the former.

is at all times prevented from shifting, no matter to what extent said partitions are adjusted.

Carrying of cargo or the like on the parti tions 6 not only economizes in space within the vessel but the weight which is thus supported on said partitions assists materially in depressing them against the outside water pressure for the purpose of expelling water from the chambers VVG, this being therefore considered a highly important feature of the invention.

In order that the gage 52 may indicate the amount which any partition laden with cargo may move upwardly it is expedient to provide means for supporting the floats 57 upon the frames 60 when the latter are in use. For this purpose, said floats are provided with rollers or other suitable shoes 63 to travel on tracks 64., one of these tracks being provided for each frame 60. The frames in question are cut away at one side as shown in Fig. at so that they may clear the arms 56 and may be suspended at the top of the chambers CC when their use is unnecessary, and the tracks 64: are located normally in said cut away portions as likewise shown clearly in Fig. 4. In order that they may not. shift the arms 56 upwardly when the frames 60 are suspended, the tracks 64. are retractible by any preferred means, being preferably provided with rigid. arms 65 sliding through guides 66 on the frames 60 and held against movement by hand screws 67.

hen the frames 60 are not needed, any suitable means may be employed for holding them at the upper ends of the chambers CC, hooks 68 being shown in the present embodiment of the invention for this purpose (see Figs. 2 and 3). It is to be understood that when the frames 60 are to be raised, the split nuts 61. thereof are released as evidenced by Fig. 2, and the tracks 64: are shifted inwardly so as to prevent the arms 56 and floats 57 from being supported thereby, thus allowing said floats to ride on the surface of the liquid .in the chambers JG From the foregoing, it will be observed that I have devised a new type of submersible vessel which may or may not be armed, according to the type of work to be performed and the improved vessel may be put to any use to which it is applicable. In any case, however, it will be found to be highly efficient and reliable in operation, particular emphasis being laid upon the fact that the water may be expelled from any of the chambers WC or taken into the same, or may be shifted from certain chambers to others without prunping air into said chambers as is now commonly done. This eliminates the use of air compressors for this purpose and the operation of the means for submerging and rising is therefore much more reliable, it being obvious that even should the mechanism for rotating the screws T be damaged and thus out of running order, the shafts 1 L may well be turned by hand since although the partitions (3 exert a treijmmdous pressure on the water in the chambers WC, provision of the screws 7 requires only that a small amount of power be used.

In submerging the vessel, it is necessary to take water into a suitable number of the water chambers 6 and unless the parti tions 6 of these chambers now stand at their lowermost positions, (see the left hand end of Fig. 1) they are moved to this position and during this operation all air from the water chambers is expelled through the pipes 42. This having been done, the valves 48 are closed and by means of the speedFgearing 1012, the partitions 6 of the chambers to be flooded are quickly raised, it being understood that the valves 18 and 2 3 are now so set as to place passage P in free communication with the body of water in which the vessel is traveling. As the partitions 6 rise in this manner, water is drawn into the chambers \VC in sufficient quantity to submerge the vessel. \Vhen the flow of water is to be checked, valves 18 are closed and the operating means of the partitions 6 are brought to a standstill. The gages 536 now show the distances which the afore said partitions stand above the bottoms of the water chambers WC while the float operated gages 30 indicate the number of gal lens of water in the chambers IVC.

When it is required to rise even slightly toward the surface of the water, the partitions 6 of a suitable number of previously flooded chambers WC are started in a down ward direction and this having been done, the valves 18 are opened so that Water is immediately expelled through the passages I with force. This will prevent the water under pressure on. the exterior of the passage from having any tendency whatever to force its way into the latter. lVhen suliicient water has been expelled, the valves 18 are again closed simultaneously with stopping of the partitions G.

When the stern of the vessel is to be lowered to permit the vessel to take an upward course through the water, the contents of say one of the front water chambers C may be transferred to one of the rear chambers bv respectively forcing the partitions 6 of these chambers downwardly and up wardly. Reversal. of this operation will produce the opposite result as will. be clearly understood. \Vhile transferring water from one end of the vessel to the other, any of the valves 27 which. are not necessarily used in this operation will preferably be closed to prevent the entrance of water into the r respective chambers 0 but if the part1- tions 6 of these chambers are in their lower most positions or are already filled with water, closing of said valves is unnecessary.

All of the gages 30, 36 and 52 will preferably be located at the commanders quarters and each group of such gages will be so located or identified in other ways as to permit it to be readily seen with which compartment C such group cooperates. It may here be explained that by simply reading the gage 52, the correct quantity of liquid in any chamber CC can not be ascertained but it is necessary to read said gage in connection with the gage 36 of its particular group, comparing the indicating means of the two gages. This is due to the fact that as the liquid in any chamber CC is raised with the partition 6 or lowered therewith, the float 57 will be correspondingly moved. This necessarily operates the gage 52 which by itself will thus indicate a greater or less number of gallons when in reality the quantity remains the same.

As an example, when the partition 6 of any compartn'ient C. is at its lowermost position, gage 3G registers Zero and with no liquid supported on said partition, gage 52 also registers ZQIO. Let us now assume that each foot in height of chamber CC has a capacity of one hundred gallons and that five hundred gallons of fluid are pumped into said chamber. Gage 52 registers these five hundred gallons while gage 36 still stands at zero. If the partition 6 is now raised five feet, the indicator 36 will register feet will register one thousand gallons instead of live hundred, (one hundred additional gallons for each foot). From this, however, five hundred gallons (a hundred gallons for each feet which the partition was raised) is subtracted so that any one familiar with reading of the gages can ascertain that there are but live hundred gallons in the chamber CC rather than one thousand as would appear from reading gage 52 alone.

From the foregoing, the general construction, manner of operation and advantages of the improved vessel will be readily understood by those skilled in the art and it will also be clear that for the sake of illustration, a number of devices which must necessarily be used 011 all submaries are not shown or described. I wish it also understood that although the drawings disclose certain specific details of construction for illustrative purposes, and such details are here described, I do not wish to be limited thereto, otherwise than to theextent claimed.

I claim:

1. A submersible vessel having a plurality of longitudinally spaced submerging chambers, a water passage extending longitudinally of the vessel and having a water inlet at or near the center of the latter, valve means for closing said inlet, and additional valve means for closing said passage on either side of said inlet to exclude water from either end of the 'ship. 7

2. A submersible vessel having one or more compartments each divided by a vertically movable power driven partition into a lower water chamber and an upper cargo or supply carrying chamber and an entrance into said upper chamber.

3. A submersible vessel having one or more compartments each divided by a vertically movable power driven partition into a lower water chamber and an upper cargo or supply carrying chamber, and a frame in each or any upper chamber for clamping cargo therein against shifting.

51 A submersible vessel having one or more compartments each divided by a vertically movable power driven partition into a lower water chamber and an upper cargo or supply carrying chamber, a frame in each or any upper chamber for clamping the cargo against shifting, and means for supporting said frame at the top of its respective chamber when oil or the like is to be carried therein.

5. A submersible vessel having one or more compartments each divided by a vertically movable partition into a lower water chamber and an upper cargo or supply car: rying chamber, one or more vertical screws passing through the partition for shifting the same vertically, a cargo clamping frame this and the float 57 in moving upwardly five in each or any upper chamber, and means on said frame engaging the screw or screws whereby to adjust the partition and frame simultaneously.

6. A submersible vessel having one or more compartments each divided by a vertically movable partition into a lower water chamber and an upper cargo or supply carrying chamber, one or more vertical screws passing through the partition for shifting the same vertically, a cargo clamping frame in each or any upper chamber, and a split nut or nuts on said frame engaging the screw or screws whereby to simultaneously adjust the partition and frame and to permit the latter to be shifted independently of the former.

7. A submersible vessel having one or more compartments each divided by a vertically movable partition into a lower water chamber and an upper cargo or liquid carrying chamber, a cargo clamping frame in each or any upper chamber, means for sup porting said frame at the top of said chamber, a gage for indicating 'the height of liquid in the upper chamber, said gage including a float to ride on the surface of the liquid, and means carried by the aforesaid frame for supporting said float when said frame is in operation.

8. A submersible vessel having one or more compartments divided by a vertically movable partition into a lower water chamher and an upper cargo or liquid carrying chamber, a cargo clamping frame in each or any upper chamber, means for supporting said frame at the top of said chamber,

a gage for indicating the height of liquid in the upper chamber, said gage including a float to ride on the surface of the liquid, a shoe carried by the float, and a retractible track carried by the frame to support said shoe slidably thereon when said frame is in use.

9. A submersible vessel having a plurality of longitudinally spaced Water chambers, a common passage for supplying water to any or all of said chambers, sliding partitions in said chambers having operating shafts, and means operatively associated with said shafts for so operating them as to shift the partitions to eXpel water from or draw it into the chambers.

10. A submersible vessel having a plurality of transverse partitions dividing it into a number of water chambers, a common passage extending beneath the several chambers for supplying water to any or all thereof, two-way valves at the lower ends of said partitions for admitting water from the common passage into either or both of the chambers on opposite sides of said partitions, and sliding power driven partitions in the chambers for drawing water into or forcing it from said chambers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALPI'IONSE FERNANDEZ.

W'itnesses L. O. HILTON, J. A. GRIESBAUER.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

